Food

Other places to see in Takahashi (2)
[Takahashi church]
I didn't go inside.
Built in 1889, thanks to donations from Christians.
This is the oldest church in Okayama prefecture.
In Takahashi, Christian missions were started in 1879, and Christianity rapidly developed after Jou Niijima visited the city the next year.…

What to see in Fukiya surrounding area (3)
[The Nishie residence]
This house is located on the opposite side of the Hirokane residence and there is no bus service to/from the village centre in the off season, and even in the high season, a cyclic bus goes there only once a day.…

Late May to June – season for making umeshu (plum liqueur)
Recently, when I go to the supermarket, I see empty bins, packs of sugar (rock), liqueur packs and ume (Japanese apricot) fruit being displayed near the entrance. Only then I’ve learned that from late May to June is season for unripe ume and so it is also a good time for making umeshu, a Japanese liqueur.…

It is no secret that the Japanese people are quite adventurous in eating raw food. That which I used to think was only limited to eating raw fish such as the sashimi and sushi. But later on discovered during my year long stay that they also consume raw meats like raw beef (gyu tataki), raw chicken (toriwasa), raw pork liver and even raw horse meat (basashi sashimi).…

Kibi-dango
In “Momotarou”, “Kibi-dango” plays a very important role – bait to attract three animals and seduce them into the battle against “Oni”(Japanese demons).
I love “Kibi-dango”, especially the plain one, but if you ask me whether I can fight against somebody like Chuck Norris for it, my answer is “Absolutely no way!!!”
The present “Kibi-dango” is totally different from the original.…

Peach
Peach is one of the major local productions of Okayama.
Although it had been consumed by people from a long time ago, it is said it was rather an ornament than a food because its taste wasn’t so good.
In Meiji era (1868–1912), when a new, sweeter and bigger breed came from China, many people started to cultivate and improve it.…

T.K.G. (Raw Egg on Rice)
You know already what’s TKG, right? If not yet, check out my post here about Tamago Kake Gohan.
Two years ago, I saw this TV program featuring a place that serves all you can eat Tamago Kake Gohan for 300 yen (about $3)! …

Lunch meal filled with Kochi local produce
During our company trip in 2010, we had a lunch in a Japanese restaurant that mainly offers seafood dishes. We were served with extravagant line-up of sashimi, soup with half-piece of a huge lobster, deep-fried shrimps and vegetables, and katsuo tataki (bonito fish where the outer part is grilled in high temperature), for which the Kochi City is well-known.…

Tamago Kake Gohan (T.K.G)
Tamago Kake Gohan, T.K.G. in short, is a popular, very simple Japanese meal.
“Tamago” is the Japanese word for egg, while “Kake” is derived from the verb “kakeru” means to pour something over and “Gohan” for cooked rice.…

Japanese companies usually hold 歓迎会(kangeikai or welcome party) to welcome new employees and 送別会( Soubetsukai or farewell party) for those leaving. In some cases, the welcome and farewell parties are combined into one — 歓送迎会(kansougeikai). These are usually dinner parties held in nice restaurants.The party is usually started with speeches by the company president or any top ranking official and by the 新入社員(shinyuushain or new employee(s)) or the person(s) leaving.…